Discovering Cells Flashcards
Microscope
An instrument that makes small objects look larger.
Cell
The basic unit of structure and function in living things
Cell theory
A widely accepted explanation of the relationship between cells and living things.
Cell wall
A rigid supporting layer that surrounds the cells of plants and some other organisms.
Cell membrane
A thin, flexible barrier that surrounds a cell and controls which substances pass into and out of a cell.
Nucleus
In cells, a large oval organelle that contains the cell’s genetic material in the form of DNA and controls many of the cell’s activities.
Organelle
A tiny cell structure that carries out a specific function within the cell.
Ribosome
A small grain-shaped organelle in the cytoplasm of a cell that produces proteins.
Cytoplasm
The thick fluid region of a cell located inside the cell membrane (in prokaryotes) or between the cell membrane and nucleus (in eukaryotes).
Mitochondria
Rod-shaped organelles that convert energy in food molecules to energy the cell can use to carry out its functions.
Endoplasmic reticulum
An organelle that forms a maze of passageways in which proteins and other materials are carried from one part of the cell to another.
Golgi apparatus
An organelle in a cell that receives proteins and other newly formed materials from the endoplasmic reticulum, packages them, and distributes them to other parts of the cell.
Vacuole
A sac-like organelle that stores water, food, and other materials.
Chloroplast
An organelle in the cells of plants and some other organisms that captures energy from sunlight and changes it to an energy form that cells can use in making food.
Lysosome
A cell organelle which contains chemicals that break down large food particles into smaller ones and that can be used by the rest of the cell.
